The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
CFR Welcomes 2026–27 Class of Visiting Fellows
English Summary
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is convening a diverse group of visiting fellows to conduct intensive research on the most critical, interconnected global challenges. Key areas of focus include great power competition, particularly concerning China's military and nuclear strategies in the Indo-Pacific, alongside the urgent need for U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation. The program emphasizes the intersection of technology and security, analyzing how AI, cyber threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities impact national defense and economic resilience. These findings are crucial for informing future U.S. policy, suggesting that effective strategy requires integrated approaches that combine technological advancement, diplomatic alliances, and robust regional security planning.
中文摘要
美國外交關係理事會（CFR）正召集一群多元化的訪問學者，對當前最關鍵、相互關聯的全球挑戰進行深入研究。重點研究領域包括大國競爭，特別是中國在印太地區的軍事和核戰略，以及迫切需要加強美台安全合作。該計畫強調技術與安全的交集，分析人工智慧（AI）、網路威脅和供應鏈漏洞如何影響國家防禦和經濟韌性。這些研究成果對於制定未來美國政策至關重要，建議有效的戰略必須採取整合性方法，結合技術進步、外交聯盟和穩健的區域安全規劃。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.